USA > Indiana > Monroe County > Bloomington > Historic treasures: true tales of deeds with interesting data in the life of Bloomington, Indiana University and Monroe County--written in simple language and about real people, with other important things and illustrations > Part 2
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"They could speak pretty good Eng- lish. I asked them, 'What news ?' They answered, 'None!' I told them of the murder of Hinton and the horses stolen. They then observed that three
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Historic Treasures, Compiled by Forest M. "Pop" Hall
days past, seven Winnebago Indians had passed their camp, going toward Cherry Bottom.
"I then let them know that we had sent a man to tell the Governor what was done, and in a little time he would send men to hunt up the bad Indians, etc. I asked him if they would go with me to the burying-they con- sented.
"My wife objected to my going with them, and wept. The oldest sympa- thized with her, and shed tears, too. We started, I leading the way. We proceeded near a mile-they stopped, said 'we no go, make white man heap mad.' So we returned, but found no- body at the house.
"My wife and children had secreted themselves in the bushes, supposing that they would kill me and return and kill them, and plunder the house. The conduct of the three Indians was very suspicious.
"They had brought skins to trade with me, but left them hid some dis- tance from the house, saying nothing about them until after our return.
Indians Flee.
"Just as we returned, McColough, who had a squaw wife, and another white man, happened to come there. McColough told them if they didn't leave immediately, 'every devil of them should be killed.' They returned to their camp, and left in great haste, leaving some of their valuables. They were the last camp of Indians that left our frontier that season.
"In about ten days after, the Indian Agent, residing at the Delaware town, sent two Indians, Salt Peter and Peter Vanvactor, with a letter and a white flag, stating that it was not the Dela- wares who had done the mischief, but the Kickapoos, who had passed through their town with the stolen horses.
"The two messengers remained with the whites many weeks. Peter Van- vactor (one of the Indian messengers) hired to work and never returned- was murdered in Kentucky by some unprincipled white man, because he was an Indian.
"A man was killed near Widow Solida's, a few miles from Muscacka- tuck-his name not now recollected. Another man was killed on White river at McCowen's Ferry.
"At the commencement of our In- dian troubles, there were upwards of seventy families living in the Forks, but in a few weeks after Hinton's murder, upwards of fifty families left the country, and some for safety crossed the Ohio river.
"The balance, fifteen or eighteen families, determined not to leave, and built block-houses, or forts.
Lived in Forts.
"John Sage and others built a fort at his place, but the principal fort was at Valonia; Huff's Fort, higher up, and Ketcham's Fort, still above, and outside.
"We all lived in forts, and went in companies to work our little improve- ments-some stood sentinel, while others worked-and thus, we got along for a while.
"The good people of Harrison and Clark counties, considering the small number left in the Forks, and they
shut up in forts, could not hold out long. The most good they seemed to do was to be a kind of Indian bait, for the safety of the interior coun- ties, who probably taking that view of the subject, reinforced us, by send- ing company after company to help us maintain our stand.
"The Indians began to understand by our preparations, that we would sooner fight a little than quit our location, although very few that re- mained during the war were owners of land, many having settled over the boundary line, where the land did not come into the market for several years afterward.
Kill Twenty-Three Whites.
"About the time that Ft. Harrison and Ft. Wayne were beseiged by the Indians, namely on September 4, 1812, a marauding party of Indians who passed north of our parts, fell on the unsuspecting neighborhood of Pigeon Roost, killing twenty-three men, wo- men and children-mostly women and children.
"After robbing the houses, they set fire to them, and stole horses to carry off their booty.
"About the same time, Major Du- vall, of Salem, with a small company of men, made a scout up White River, and it so happened that while they were passing over some fallen timber on Sand Creek, that they came in contact with the Indians on their re- turn from the Pigeon Roost.
"Those of the Indians who had horses, threw off their large packs and made good their retreat. Two others who had no horses, fled in an- other direction, pursued by the white men.
John Zink Shot.
"John Zink, one of the party, being young and athletic, outran his com- rades, and when the Indians discov- ered that he was separated( they de- vised a plan to shoot Zink. In crossing a ravine, one Indian secreted himself while the other showed himself in plain view, within shooting distance. "Zink stopped to shoot, but the se- creted Indian fired first, giving him a mortal wound. Zink lay in his gore that rainy night and was found by his companions next morning, still alive. He was brought to Ketcham's fort, where he was washed and com- fortably clothed, and Dr. Lamb, of Salem was sent for.
"The doctor arrived, drew a silk handkerchief through the wound, and started home. Zink died before they reached Valonia.
"The three large packs were opened, and found to consist of men's and women's and children's clothing. We knew then that some settlement had been destroyed, but at the time knew not what one.
Absalom Buskirk Killed.
"About the last of September, 1812, Absalom Buskirk and his brother-in- law took a two-horse team to his field to get some corn and pumpkins. The Indians killed Buskirk, and stole his two fine horses.
"The corpse was brought to Ket- cham's fort the same evening, and on the next morning John Johnston, Ro- bert Sturgeon and others came and
hauled the corpse to Huff's fort for ' interment.
"After which, Sturgeon started home, and was killed at the 'Half- mile Branch," near Valonia. Although there were at Valonia a number of militia men stationed, they were un- willing to risk their own scalps, and refused to go for the dead. After night,, the citizens, namely, Craig Rogers, Beems, etc., went with their dogs, and brought back the corpse to the fort.
Incidents at Ketcham's Fort.
"After the murder of Buskirk and Sturgeon, no other persons were killed during the fall and winter following;, but many alarms were given. I will insert a few cases:
"One night, Daniel Stout, who now lives in Bloomington (1865), and others were at Ketcham's fort. After their sentinels were placed out in dif- ferent directions around the fort, two heard and a third saw two Indians, and fired at them, and then fled to the fort; expecting, next morning, to find a dead Indian, or a trail of blood -but a hard rain fell that night, and we found no Indian or blood.
"At another time, about corn gath- ering, Captain Hiram Boone, with twelve or fifteen men, were at Ket- cham's fort. They tied their horses to stakes driven in the ground in the yard, not far from the fort.
"A large popular stump stood rather between two of the houses, not more than five steps from either. In that stump holes were bored and hooks driven in, and four or five horses fastened to them.
"The night was clear, the moon did not rise until after night. While it was yet dark the Indians opened the yard fence into the corn field, and let down one bar on another square of the yard fence. The bars were within twelve or fifteen steps of the big stump.
Steal Capt. Boone's Horse.
"An Indian slipped through the bars, and got to the horses undis- covered, but while loosening his choice horse-a fine gelding-one of the guards fired on him, but he clung to the horse. Another guard fired on him, but he led the horse off through the gap, into the corn field.
"By this time, Captain Boone and five or six of his men pursued the In- dian having the horse. While the chase was going on, Ketcham was standing in the yard giving some di- rections, when an Indian secreted near the bars, not more than twenty steps distance, fired at him. Boone halted and asked who had shot? I replied, an Indian.
"One of his men said: 'Captain, let us tree!' He replied: 'We don't know on which side of the tree to get, we will return to the fort.'
"The party was composed of about sixteen Indians. We counted their trail next morning, through a newly- cut buckwheat patch, and at that time discovered what their policy had been. On each side of the gap opening into the corn field there had been placed a strong guard; also, on each side of the bars-if an Indian had been close- ly pursued in either direction, the
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Historic Treasures, Compiled by Forest M. "Pop" Hall
Old Monon Station in 1900
guard would have shot down his pur- suers.
People Became Hardened.
"Although it was believed that the Indians were continually prowling around some of our forts, the people got so hardened to danger that they seemed not to dread their enemy.
"One night, Mr. Hutcherson and family, together with some of the militia men, concluded to stay at his house, a short distance from Huff's fort. They felt safe, and happy; and, having a fiddle, concluded to have a dance and enjoy themselves first-rate. But, in the morning, when they awoke, they found that their horses were all gone.
"While they were dancing, the In- dians were catching their horses. Pur- suit was made, and after following their trail a few miles they met David Sturgeon's old, ugly horse, coming back with a leather tug tied so tightly around its throat that it could scarce- ly draw its breath.
"The Indians did this, probably, to show their contempt for the white man's ugly old horse. No more horses were recovered, however.
Tells of Gen. Tipton.
"Long after that time, the Indians stole two horses from Flinn's settle- ment. They were pursued by General Tipton, David and James Rogers, and others, who followed them for several days, when it was found they were close upon the Indians, the water be- ing fresh in the tracks.
"Tipton's plan was to follow them slowly and cautiously until night, then have fine sport tomahawking them. But his spies, Major Sparks and Mr. ***** , disobeyed orders.
"The Indians had haulted over the turn of a hill, dressing the horses' manes and tails. The Major and -
got within thirty or forty steps
of the Indians before they discovered them.
"The temptation was too great- they fired-and missed!
"When Tipton came up and saw what these men had done, he cried like a child, and was tempted to toma- hawk the Major. Their provisions were exhausted, and they were far from home.
Name Bean Blossom Creek.
"The rain had swelled the creeks until they were past fording; those who could swim had to do so.
"They came to a large creek in the north end of Monroe county. A man by the name of Bean Blossom, in attempting to swim the creek, came very near drowning, and Tipton named the creek 'Bean Blossom,' af- ter his name-and so it is called to this day.
"At another time, General Tipton . and Captain Bean, with perhaps twenty men, made a scout to the West Fork of White river. Before they . got to the river, they crossed a beauti- ful stream that empties into Bean Blossom, near its mouth.
Huffman Boy Stolen.
"A man by the name of Jack Storm, and another named John Ketcham, in crossing the stream, got both of their horses mired and stuck fast in the mud.
"They then named the creek 'Jack's Defeat,' and so it is called today.
"No disturbance was made in the winter of 1812. Perhaps the Indians thought they might be tracked in the snow. In March, 1813, they com- menced again, fiecer than ever. They made another descent on the Pigeon Roost country, killing old Mr. Huff- man, wounding his wife and daughter, and taking his grandson, a small boy, son of Benjamin Huffman, prisoner.
"On their return, they divided their
company. One party stole Reed's horses, and the other party went eight or ten miles from Reed's and stole Kimberlin's horses; and, the same night, made good their retreat.
"After the war was over, Benjamin Huffman went north, perhaps to De- troit, in search of his lost son. He heard that his son had been sold to a Frenchman, living in Canada.
"Huffman was poor; his means ex- hausted, he returned home discour- aged, despairing ever seeing his child again.
Jonathan Jennings Helps.
"Our kind and benevolent Repre- sentative in Congress, Jonathan Jen- nings, got an appropriation made to enable Huffman to seek further aft- er his little son. He hired a man to go with him.
"They went down the St. Lawrence, into Canada, and found Huffman's son. The child was so young when stolen, and had been gone so long, that he had forgotten his father's name .. He recollected that he was called Ben, but had forgotten the bal- ance of the name.
"In the spring of 1813, the Potto- wotamies made a descent on Flinn' settlement-now Leesville, killed Mr. Guthrie and took Martin Flinn pris- oner.
"He remained a prisoner with them until the fall of 1814. At that time a young warrior crossed the Tippe- canoe river in a splendid canoe, on a courting expedition.
Took Lover's Canoe.
"While the Indian lover was enjoy- ing himself with his beloved one, Flinn gathered his axe, which they had stolen when they captured him, and a few ears of corn, and quietly stepped into the lover's canoe, not asking any questions 'for conscience
L
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Historic Treasures, Compiled by Forest M. "Pop" Hall
sake;' and, with his beautiful paddle, rowed himself down stream all night.
"He secreted himself in the day time, and in this way spent several days and nights before he landed at Ft. Harrison. When he landed, he was unable to get out of the canoe. He was helped out, and cared for, and in a few days considered himself able to travel home.
"The Rangers then at the fort, and others, made up a pony purse, and bought him a horse to ride home on. In a few days he was able to ride, and carried his lost axe home.
"Oh! Then-the happy meeting of friends and relations.
Waylaid and Fired On.
"About the middle of March, 1813, John Ketcham and George Doom, a militia man from Harrison county, then on duty, went on an errand to Joshua Lindsey's-Lindsey having, during the winter of 1812 removed from Ketcham's fort to his farm, some miles above.
"On their return home, they were waylaid and fired on by the Indians- Doom was killed, and Ketcham badly wounded. When he reached the fort, a messenger was sent to Valonia for reinforcements. About twenty men, under command of Lieutenant proceeded to where Doom's corpse lay; after carrying it to Lindsey's, William Reddick, John Samuel and Frederick Funk were detailed to bury the dead, and remained at Lindsey's until next mornig.
"The scout proceeded up the coun- try for miles without making any discovery of Indian signs, and return- ed home. The fatigue party, having completed the burial, the sun yet an hour high, concluded that the Indians
were all gone, and that they would return to the fort.
"They had proceeded about 300 yards when the Indians, laying in ambush near their path, fired on them and wounded Reddick and Samuel, then retreated.
At Tipton's Island.
"Shortly after this, General Tip- ton, Richard Beem, William Dyer and a number of militia men from Har- rison county went on a scout up White river; some distance above Ketcham's fort, struck a fresh Indian trail. They eagerly and cautiously pursued the same, until they ascertained that the Indians had crossed over on drift tim- ber into an island.
"Tipton stood ready with his gun presented, while Beem and others were crossing on the drift logs. An Indian, who was secreted, raised his gun to shoot Beem; but, Tipton touch- ed trigger first. The Indian threw down his gun-it cocked-and re- treated, badly wounded. He was supposed to be their leader. Tipton and all his men crossed over to the island, except Dyer, who had charge of Tipton's horse.
"Several shots were exchanged be- tween the parties. The whites got one scalp, and tracked several of the enemy by the blood, to the water, where they attempted to swim. Dyer being below the island, had a fair view of the river.
Government Rangers Organized.
"He saw a number bulge into the water with their blankets on. All sunk before they reached the opposite shore. It is believed that the whole party perished. This good licking caused the Redskins to treat us with more politeness.
"In the spring of 1813, the General
Government authorized the raising of four companies of Mounted Rangers, to protect the Territorial frontier.
"Captain Shoultz, of Lawrenceburg (I believe), raised a company; Cap- tain Williamson Dunn, of Madison, a company; Captain James Bigger, of Charlestown, a company, and Captain Andrew, of Vincennes, a company.
"Captain Bigger's company was principally made up of citizens of Clark county, ten or twelve of whom had been shut up in forts and block- houses in the Forks, for more than a year, making nothing. They concluded to join the company, and make a busi- ness of hunting Indians and guarding their own frontier; as, in doing so, they would get some pay for their services-otherwise, they would not. The pay of a Ranger was a dollar a day, each man 'finding himself'-that is, each man furnishing his own horse, arms, ammunition and provisions- every man his own commissary.
Became Much Attached.
"The soldiers became much attached to each other during their services, and the kindest feeling toward each other seemed to have existed between them all, except David Barnes and Samuel Ridge, who often fought each other.
"They were too full of spirits- very spirited men, some times. Others again did wrong, because they had not spirit enough. Ensign Owen and Richard Lewis marred the good feel- ings of their comrades by desertion, on the Peoria campaign. It was said by Daniel Williams and others, as an apology for them that they had caught the Kickadoo fever.
"After General Tipton had handled our Red brethern so roughly on Tip- ton's Island (so-called), they were more cautious and sly toward us. No
Indiana University Library, as it appears in 1922, looking north from Kirkwood Observatory.
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Historic Treasures, Compiled by Forest M. "Pop" Hall
more of our neighbors were killed by them, but occasionally they would ride off a horse that was not their own.
"After the four companies of Rang- ers were organized, it was thought best to carry the war into Egypt. Ar- rangements were made for a cam- paign against the Indians, composed of Rangers and a few volunteer Mili- tia.
"Captains Dunn and Bigger, with part of their companies, and some of Captain Payton's men (of Kentucky), together with General Bartholomew and volunteer Militia, was assigned to that duty.
Campaign Against Indians.
"They rendezvoused at Valonia about the middle of June, then pro- ceeded under the command of General Bartholomew to the upper towns on the West Fork of White river. The towns had mostly been destroyed be- fore we got there, probably by a com- pany from the White Water settle- ment.
"We then went down the river to towns not interrupted, and come to Strawtown late in the evening, and discovered fresh Indian signs. Early next morning, General Bartholomew, Captain Dunn and Cantain Shields and about twenty Rangers, went in pur- suit of the Indians.
"When we had proceeded about three-fourths of a mile we discovered three horses; we surrounded and se- cured them-two were hobbled. Fol- lowing their back track, we came to their camp. General Bartholomew di- rected three mounted Rangers. name- ly, Severe Lewis, David Hays, and (that is John Ketcham) to keep in the rear, but at the fire of the first gun to dash forward.
"Captain Dunn went on the right under cover of the river bank, Cap- tain Shields on the left, and General Bartholomew brought up the center division. The directions were to sur- round their camp and take them prisoners.
Ketcham Shot Indian.
"The Indians had a large brass kettle hanging over a fire, with three deer heads boiling, and were sitting near the fire. Captain Shields slipped carefully through the bushes, and when oposite the camp, at 100 yards distance, the Indians discovered us, jumped to their guns and fled.
"Shields fired his gun to notify the horsemen. One of Bigger's men (to wit, John Ketcham) immediately started in pursuit, ran two or three
hundred yards, when he got into the path the Indians had run on. He was within thirty steps of his game, and shot down an Indian.
"The other horsemen soon made up, but the other Indians were just out of sight. They were directed by Ketcham to where the Indian was last seen. Hays got separted from the other two horsemen, and unfor- tunately, met with the secreted In- dian, who gave him a mortal wound.
"The horses and kettle were sold to the highest bidder, on a credit, and the notes were given to Hays. His wounds were dressed by David Max- well. He was carried on a litter to the mouth of Flat Rock, now Columbus, where we made two canoes and sent him and the guard by water to Val- onia, where his wife and family were. He died in two or three days, after they had reached the fort."
(This is the end of Mr. Ketcham's narrative of the Indian difficulties.) Old Muster Roll Saved.
Colonel John Ketcham preserved the old muster roll of the company of Rangers he was a part of, which fol- lows:
MUSTER ROLL.
Of a Company of U. S. Mounted Rangers, Commanded by Captain James Bigger.
Commissioned Officers.
Captain, James Bigger; First Lieu- tenant, John Carr; Second Lieutenant, James Curry; Third Lieutenant, Wil- liam Meredith; Ensign, Jack Owens.
Non-Commissioned Officers.
First Sergeant, John Ketcham; Se- cond Sergeant, Josiah Williams; Third Sergeant, William E. L. Collins; Fourth Sergeant, Johnathan Watkins; Fifth Sergeant, John Herrod. First Corporal, Basil Bowers; second, Wil- liam Patrick; third, Samuel Herrod; fourth, Robert Wardle; fifth, Andrew B. Holland; sixth, Jonathan Gibbons.
Privates-Moses Allen, James Al- lison, Martin Adams, George Arm- strong, Luther Beadle, Thomas Ber- net, John Baldwin, John Blair, John Bartholomew, David Barnes, George Bratton, Michael Beam, John Cosner, John Owen, James Cowen, Isiah Coop- er, James Collins, John Cloak, John Clark, Isaac Clark, John R. Clark, John Craig, Stephen Dunlap, Moses Dunlap, John Dunlap, Robert Evans, John Evans, William N. Griffith, Wil- liam Gainer, John Gibson, John Gib- son (two men, same name), James Hay, John D. Hay, William Hiler,
Aaron Holeman, Philip Hart, Isaac D. Huffman, James Herrod, Benja- min Noble, Lewis Hankins, Esram Hutchins, Robert Jones, Jonathan Johnston, Lewis Ketcham, Abraham Kelly, William Kelly, Thomas F. Kelly, James S. Kelly, Davis Kelly, William Lindsey, Richard Lewis, John May, John McNaught, John McNight, Harvey Owen, George W. Owen, Jer- emiah Pierceall, Adam Peck, Henry Pearcy, Andrew Perry, Charles F. Ross, George Ross, James Ross, John Reed, Thomas Ryan, James Rogers, Isaac Rogers, Lewis Rogers, Samuel Ridge, Thomas Rose, Stephen Ship- man, William Stewart, Robert Swany, John Sage, George Ulmer, Reece Wil- liams, Daniel Williams, Thomas Weathers, Martin Wilson, James Wil- son, Robert Pearcy, Hugh Ross.
New Recruits-Lewis Cutting, John Flint, Samuel Haslett, - Jen- kins, Levi Nugent, James Mooney, John Milton, Joseph Rawlins, David Studebaker, John Storm, John Sands, James Sands, Elam Whitley.
Captain Dunn's Muster Roll.
Captain Williamson Dunn's Com- pany of U. S. Rangers.
Commissioned Officers-Captain Williamson Dunn; Lieutenants, Henry Briton, Henry Ristine, David Hillis; Ensign, Green B. Field.
Non-Commissioned Officers-Ser- geants, John Thorn, John Danolds, Josuhua Wilkinson, Ebenezer Hillis, John Griffin; Corporals, Joshua De- puty, Joseph Strickland, Peter Ryker, Andrew J. Storms, Matthew Cowley, Willis Law.
Privates - Alexander Anderson, John Adkinon, Robert Anderson, James Anderson, John Barnes, Wil- liam Blankenship, Maurice Baker, Isa- iah Blnkenship, David Bigger, Henry Banta, John Bandy, Isaac Bergin, Na- than Chalfant, George Craig, Wiatt Coleman, . John Colbert, Benjamin Combs, Isaac Crawford, Elijah Col- lier, Nathaniel Dunn, John Dunn, An- drew Davidson, William Dickey, John Davis, Hanniabal Dougherty, Thomas Davis, Charles Easton, William Far- ley, Samuel T. Cray, Henry Giles, George Gunn, John Guthrie, William Gilmore, William Hamblen, Absolom Hankins, William Johnston, William Irwin, Thomas Jones, James Johnston, jr .; Samuel Long, Severe Lewis, James Lewis, Jacob Lewis, John Lee, Peter Metz, David H. Maxwell, James Monroe, James McCarthey, James McCollough, John Maxwell, James
Indiana University Looking South from Dunn Meadow.
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Historic Treasures, Compiled by Forest M. "Pop" Hall
McKay, William McKay, Robert Mc- Kay 3rd, Robert Mckay 4th, Thomas McConnell, John H. Newland, Brackett Owen, Moses Overton, David Patton, John Peters, John Purcell, John Ris- tine, William Russell, John Ramsey, Peter H. Roberts, William Renis, Her- ardus Ryker, John G. Ryker, John
Ryker, Jacob Smock, William Sage, John Smith, James Stevens, Samuel Snodgrass, David Stucker, John Shank, Richie Smith, Isaac Short, Henry Salyers, Peter Storm, William D. Stuart, Jacob Trumbo, James Ven- tioneer, Abraham Varvell, William Wright, Thomas Wise, Daniel Whitak- er, Thomas Wendsaw.
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